A.                Summary

Television, Radio and Print Media

Several public access television stations, funded by cable companies and local fundraising, serve areas within the Addison Region. Two stations are located in the region: Middlebury Community Television and Northeast Addison Television out of Bristol. These are the only local cable television stations operating within the Addison Region.

 

There are several commercial FM and AM radio stations in the Addison Region. Vermont State Police utilize UHF frequencies for dispatch, while most local fire and ambulance services are on VHF. The Middlebury College Amateur Radio Club operates a ham-radio repeater on 147.36 MHz. There is also the Addison County Amateur Radio Association made up of licensed amateur radio enthusiasts from throughout the region.

 

The Addison County Independent was established in 1946. Originally published weekly, the Addison County Independent began publishing twice weekly in 1987. The paper covers all of Addison County and has a website with a searchable archive of articles going back to the late 1990s. There are two other weekly papers in the region, the Addison Eagle and the Valley Voice. The Five Town News is a monthly newspaper in Bristol. The monthly Vermont Magazine has offices in Middlebury. Two daily newspapers, the Burlington Free Press and Rutland Herald, circulate in the Addison Region.

Telecommunications Infrastructure and Services

There are 16 telephone exchanges and three local phone service providers in the Addison Region. Shoreham Telephone Company provides service in the southwestern portion of the region. Most of the remaining lakeshore and northern part of the region with the exception of an area around Vergennes is the territory of Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom. Verizon serves the rest of the Addison Region. Several cellular providers serve the Addison Region, including Verizon, CellularOne and Nextel. Sprint PCS has coverage in the region, primarily along Route 7. There are approximately 60 public payphones located throughout the Addison Region, although there are towns with no service.

Internet Technology and Access

Increased attention and utilization of the world wide web began in the early 1990s at the dawn of the dot-com era. In a decade, internet technology has proliferated throughout our society and changed the ways we communicate, learn, work, shop and recreate. DSL (Digital Subscriber Lines) offer a broadband internet connection over a standard copper phone line, which also includes a voice line. DSL is available in some portions of the Addison Region, but at this time there are no plans to extend service to all areas. Most Shoreham Telephone Company and Waitsfield-Champlain Valley Telecom customers have access to residential DSL and some areas serviced by Verizon do as well.

B.                Goals and Objectives

The Addison County Regional Planning Commission establishes the follow­ing goals and objectives for the Addison Region through this plan.

Goal A.

To have adequate, affordable communications systems that meets the needs of all Addison Region residents and businesses.

To meet this goal, it is our objective:

1.      Access

a.       For the communications system in the Addison Region to be interoperable with systems on a global basis.

b.       For the region's telecommunication system to allow local businesses to interact with national and world markets.

c.       To continue to have access to education on using new communication technologies.

2.      Affordability

a.       For basic telecommunications service to be available at affordable prices to all the region's consumers.

b.       For competitive telecommunications providers, including locally-owned enterprises, to offer service in the Addison Region.

c.       To continue to have public access to telecommunications services, such as conveniently located payphones and internet access at libraries, throughout the Addison Region.

d.       To continue to support telecommunications services - such as Lifeline, Linkup and TTY - that meet special needs, allowing groups such as the elderly and physically impaired access to assistance within their homes.

3.      Reliability

a.       To have dependable and reliable communications systems, which are capable of functioning under difficult conditions such as inclement weather.

b.       To have back-up systems in place to ensure that basic needs and services can be met in case of serious disruptions in the telecommunications system.

c.       To continue to be maintain important records in paper format so that as technology changes those records will remain accessible.

4.      Infrastructure

a.       To fully utilize existing structures for telecommunications before building new infrastructure.

b.       To integrate any new infrastructure into the region's natural and built environment.

c.       To minimize the visual impacts of communications towers through design and siting when new infrastructure is required.

d.       For telecommunications infrastructure built in the region not to impact the health and safety of residents or environmental quality.

Goal B.

To continue to have access to a range of local news and information sources throughout the Addison Region.

To meet this goal, it is our objective:

a.       To continue to have non-subscription based access to news and entertainment media such as broadcast television and radio.

b.       For a variety of media owners to represent a range of editorial views and the diversity of opinion in the Addison Region.

c.       To continue to have local ownership of some news and information sources in the region.

d.       To utilize communications technology - such as municipal newsletters, websites or email lists - to increase public awareness, interest and involvement in municipal decisions.

Goal C.

For the emergency communications systems in the Addison Region to function to protect the health, safety and property of residents and businesses.

To meet this goal, it is our objective:

a.       For emergency response organizations to have the ability to communicate with each other.

b.       For E-911 to continue to provide timely emergency assistance.

 

C.                Recommended Actions

The Addison County Regional Planning Commission recommends that the following actions be incorporated into its annual work plans, as issues or opportunities arise, to move towards accomplishing objectives and meeting the goals outlined above.

 

1.                  Assist municipalities in developing plans and zoning bylaws that encourage the use of existing structures for communications infrastructure.

2.                  Assist the efforts of organizations to provide inexpensive, publicly available access to communications technology in the region.

3.                  Encourage appropriate placement or retention of public payphones throughout the region.

4.                  Continue cooperative efforts with the Addison County Economic Development Corporation to seek development of communications infrastructure that meets the needs of the region's businesses.

5.                  Assist in the dissemination of information to member municipalities relating to current communications services and infrastructure.

6.                  Support efforts to mitigate the effects of disasters on communications infrastructure.

7.                  Support efforts of local emergency response organizations to develop a regional communications strategy

8.                  Continue to assist E-911 efforts through work with local road identification and mapping

9.                  Continue to support local providers of news and information by using them for ACRPC's advertising and publicity.

 

D.                Documentation and Analysis

Television, Radio and Print Media

a.      Television

1.Broadcast Stations

There are no broadcast television stations based out of the Addison Region. However, region residents can receive a number of stations, mainly from Burlington including Channel 3 WCAX (CBS), Channel 5 WPTZ (NBC) and Channel 22 WVNY (ABC). Vermont Public Television, Channel 33 WETK (PBS) also broadcasts from Burlington. Reception of these channels varies around the region, mainly due to terrain.

2.Cable Service

Cable television is not widely available in the Addison Region. Currently the centers of Bristol, Middlebury and Vergennes have service. The geographic area with cable service is increasing as additional lines are installed.

3.Satellite Service

As in many rural areas, satellite television is much more common in the Addison Region than cable. There are a number of companies offering installation in the region and service is available from several national companies. With the development of small dishes, approximately 18 inches in diameter, the region's households quickly adopted the technology and began phasing out use of the older, large dishes.

4.Digital Television

The broadcast television industry is moving to a new digital transmission standard that will offer a sharper, high definition picture than currently available from analog systems. In 2006, by FCC mandate, television stations are expected to shut down their analog broadcasts. This change will require consumers to purchase new equipment that can receive the digital signal, probably as add-on digital tuners at first, until all televisions in use have built in digital receivers. This transition is significantly behind schedule and as 2006 draws closer, it is uncertain whether the timeline will be extended.

5.Public Access

Public access TV is a system that provides television production equipment, training and airtime on a dedicated local cable channel, so members of the public can produce and televise their own shows. Several public access television stations, funded by cable companies and local fundraising, serve areas within the Addison Region. Two stations are located in the region: Middlebury Community Television and Northeast Addison Television out of Bristol. These are the only local cable television stations operating within the Addison Region and are a primary source of local information. Local governments, schools and community organizations can broadcast meetings and special events on public access channels, also referred to as PEGs (Public-Education-Government channels).  

6.Vermont Interactive TV

Currently, there are 14 Vermont Interactive Television (VIT) sites throughout the state, one of which is located at the Hannaford Career Center in Middlebury. The Middlebury VIT site began operation in 1994 and enables the region's residents to participate in classes and videoconferences from around the state or the world. Each VIT studio is staffed by technicians and is outfitted with equipment such as VCRs, computers with Power Point software, overhead cameras, fax machines and an internet connection to support presentations, public hearings, conferences and distance learning courses.

7.Vermont Interactive Learning Network

The Vermont Interactive Learning Network (VILN) is a videoconferencing network that connects the state's high schools for course sharing, professional development, curriculum resources, technical assistance, professional meetings and special events. Participating schools are connected by special T1 broadband lines into a high-speed communications network, which is being provided by Verizon at no additional cost until June 2005. The VILN is available to students at all the region's high schools. The system offers students additional choices in foreign language classes, advanced placement classes and other specialized curriculum.

b.      Radio

There are several commercial FM and AM radio stations in the Addison Region. Vermont Public Radio operates out of Colchester. The local stations are WXAL-FM "The Arrow" (93.7 MHz) and WFAD AM (1490 kHz) in Middlebury, owned by Addison Broadcasting Company, and WCLX FM (102.9 MHz) and WIZN FM (106.7 MHz) of Vergennes. WSYB FM and AM (92.1 MHz and 1380 kHz) and WGTK FM (100.9 MHz) also broadcast from Middlebury, although the WSYB FM tower is in Port Henry, New York. A low-power FM station, WMUD LP, operates out of Bridport at 89.3 MHz, with a tower in Moriah, New York. WRMC FM (91.1 MHz) is the independent, student-operated station at Middlebury College. A number of other stations transmitting from outside the region can also be picked up from within the Addison Region.

c.       Print Media

The Addison County Independent was established in 1946, taking over the Middlebury Register, which was founded in 1831. Originally published weekly, the Addison County Independent began publishing twice weekly on Mondays and Thursdays in 1987. The paper covers all of Addison County and has a website that provides a limited number of current stories and a searchable archive of articles going back to the late 1990s.

 

The weekly Addison Eagle of Middlebury is owned by Denton Publications of Elizabethtown, New York, after having been started as a local enterprise. The Middlebury Valley Voice is a feature-oriented weekly. The Five Town News is a monthly newspaper in Bristol. The monthly Vermont Magazine has offices in Middlebury. Two daily newspapers, the Burlington Free Press and Rutland Herald, circulate in the Addison Region.

d.      Media Ownership

In recent years, there have been concerns across the country about the consolidation of media ownership. While the Addison Region still has a diverse range of media sources available for news and information, it is not unaffected by this national trend.

Telecommunications Infrastructure and Services

a.      Wired Telephone Service

There are 16 telephone exchanges and three local phone service providers in the Addison Region. Shoreham Telephone Company provides service in the southwestern portion of the region. Most of the remaining lakeshore and northern part of the region with the exception of an area around Vergennes is the territory of Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom. The rest of the Addison Region is served by Verizon.

1.Public Payphones

There are approximately 60 public payphones located throughout the Addison Region, although there are towns with no service. As cell phone coverage has improved, payphone usage has declined. Regulatory changes at the federal level have also contributed to making payphones less profitable for phone companies spurring further reduction in service. Between 2001 and 2003, Verizon, the state's largest phone company, removed around 800 payphones in Vermont.

 

According the 2000 Census, approximately 225 households in the Addison Region had no phone service and more than 75 percent of those without phone service were below the poverty line. Many of these households rely on public phones as their chief means of communications. Additionally, payphones serve a wider population including area residents and travelers without cell phones. 

2.Lifeline and Link Up Phone Services

Vermont has participated in the nationwide Lifeline program, which is designed to help low-income households maintain telephone service, since 1985. Participants receive a credit offsetting the cost of basic phone service. Link Up Vermont is a program designed to make installation of phone service more affordable for Vermont residents with limited income. Link Up Vermont pays half the cost of phone installation for eligible households.

b.      Wireless Telephone Service

Several cellular providers serve the Addison Region, including Verizon, CellularOne and Nextel. Sprint PCS has coverage in the region, primarily along Route 7.

 

Cell companies use several methods of delivering a digital signal that are not compatible with each other, principally GSM, TDMA and CDMA. That means a Verizon phone can transmit through or "roam onto" CellularOne towers, but not on Cingular, and so on. There are two main frequency bands, 900 MHz for analog and 1,300 to 1,800 MHz for digital.

c.       Radio Communications

Vermont State Police utilize UHF frequencies (in the 460 MHz range) for dispatch, while most local fire and ambulance services are on VHF (in the 150 MHz range). A central communications center for emergency services is located in Shelburne, although some towns have their own radio dispatch stations.

 

The Middlebury College Amateur Radio Club operates a ham-radio repeater on 147.36 MHz with call letters W1RMC. There is also the Addison County Amateur Radio Association made up of licensed amateur radio enthusiasts from throughout the region. Amateur radio operators assist during disasters, relaying information.

d.      Vermont Telecommunications Relay Service

The Vermont Telecommunications Relay Service connects deaf, hard-of-hearing and speech-disabled individuals with users of regular telephones. 7-1-1 is a statewide relay number that connects standard (voice) telephone users with deaf, hard-of-hearing, and speech-disabled people who use text telephones (TTYs). This service is available statewide, 24 hours a day.

Internet Technology and Access

Increased attention and utilization of the world wide web began in the early 1990s at the dawn of the dot-com era. In a decade, internet technology has proliferated throughout our society and changed the ways we communicate, learn, work, shop and recreate. The internet has provided almost infinite possibilities for users and as the technology continues to rapidly develop its potential uses seem endless. According to the Center for Rural Studies Vermonter Polls between 1993 and 2003, the percentage of Vermont households with a computer has increased from 43 to 79 percent. In 2003, 92 percent of households with a computer had internet access.

a.      Dial-Up Service

About 70 percent of internet connections in Vermont are through standard dial-up phone lines. A number of ISPs (Internet Service Providers) provide internet service over standard phone lines in the Addison Region. ISPs include both companies that provide service nationwide like AOL (America On-Line) and regional companies like Sover.net or Shoreham Telephone Company that provide service in a limited geographic area. Connection speed is limited by line quality, which lessens the further the connection is from the phone company's central district office.

b.      DSL and Other High Speed Lines

DSL (Digital Subscriber Lines) offer a broadband internet connection over a standard copper phone line, which also includes a voice line. DSL currently costs about twice regular phone service, but that has been coming down. DSL is available in a large portion of the Addison Region. Most Shoreham Telephone Company and Waitsfield-Champlain Valley Telecom customers have access to residential DSL and some areas serviced by Verizon do as well. DSL is generally limited to locations less than three miles from a central district office.

 

Telephone companies also offer industrial-quality high-speed trunk lines from T1 to T3 and fiber-optic lines OC-1 to OC-3 that are even faster and more expensive. These lines can be run just about anywhere there is phone service, but at significant cost. In addition to use by large businesses and organizations, these type of high-speed lines are used to connect ATM machines, lottery sales terminals, pay-at-the-pump gasoline stations, etc.

c.       Cable Service

High-speed internet access can also be delivered through cable television lines instead of phone lines. Currently, this service is not widely available in the Addison Region, since most of the region does not have access to cable television. However, as cable service is expanded in the region, the digital cable required for cable modems is being installed. The speed of internet connection through cable is dependent on how many customers are connected as part of a loop. The more connection in one loop, the less bandwidth and therefore speed available to each.

d.      Satellite Service

High-speed internet access can also be delivered through satellite. This technology has not yet reached the consumer stage. However, given the number of satellite television customers in the region and the limited areas served by cable, once the technology is priced for the consumer market it might become a popular choice for area residents.

Communications Technology Issues

a.      Provision of Service to Rural Customers

In the early 1930s, most urban areas of the United States had had electric service for at least 50 years. However, the country's rural residents were still without electricity. Private power companies had decided that providing service in rural America would simply not be profitable. Private power companies believed rural residents could not afford electricity and really had no need for it; so many of the conveniences taken for granted in American cities were unknown to rural families. It was President Roosevelt's New Deal that initiated rural electrification and within a decade much of rural America had access to electricity.

 

Rural communities across the country have faced this same issue with each wave of technology that has followed - phone service, cable television service, wireless phone service, broadband internet access. Service providers can make the larger profits more quickly by focusing on smaller geographic areas with dense populations. While the lag in availability of service between urban and rural areas has shortened considerably, the pace of change in technology continues to quicken making it impossible for rural customers to catch up to their urban counterparts.

b.      The Digital Divide

While the so-called "Digital Divide" is not as wide in Vermont as elsewhere in the United States, there are still concerns that some groups do not have equal access to these new technologies. Public libraries have tried to fill the gap by offering the use of computers with free internet access. Schools have offered courses teaching basics like receiving e-mail and finding information on the world wide web.

c.       Telecommunications Technology and Economic Development

Access to telecommunications technology is becoming increasingly important for the region's existing businesses and for the region's ability to attract new businesses. Telecommunications is essential to more than high-tech companies and a wide variety of entrepreneurs in the region rely on their ability to buy and sell products and conduct business around the world through internet, phone and fax connections.

d.      Telecommuting

Improved telecommunications has brought a new type of resident to the region in recent years - people whose jobs allow them to do their jobs from anywhere in the world. These new residents have chosen to live in the Addison Region for a variety of reasons, many related to quality of life and the character of the region's communities.

e.      Impacts of Infrastructure

Like energy infrastructure, telecommunications infrastructure can have significant impacts - especially visual impacts - on the region. Towering telecommunications towers with a multitude of antennas and arrays are a common feature in many parts of the country. The Addison Region has been spared most of the negative impacts of that type of infrastructure largely due to its rural nature and low population density. These factors have not made the region an attractive market for telecommunications companies. Most of the region's cell phone coverage comes not from large towers, but from antennas mounted on existing structures like silos and steeples. ACRPC fully supports this approach since the infrastructure is largely invisible to the average viewer and provides extra revenue for its hosts.

 

 

Endnotes